Work

Congenital syphilis in newborn rabbits: immune functions and susceptibility to challenge infection at 2 and 5 weeks of age

Year: 1991

Type: article

Abstract: Experiments were performed to further elaborate on our congenital syphilis rabbit model. Attempts were made to determine whether in utero exposure to Treponema pallidum would stimulate immune reactivity and whether this activity would, in turn, affect lesion development upon challenge infection. Newborn rabbits aged 2 or 5 weeks were obtained from control does or from does infected intravenously with T. pallidum during pregnancy. Congenitally infected newborns exhibited increased immunologic functions. Concanavalin A-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation was elevated at both 2 and 5 weeks. In addition, macrophage Ia expression and RPR antibody titers were increased at 5 weeks. In separate experiments, newborn rabbits from control does or from does infected during pregnancy were challenged intradermally with viable organisms at either 2 or 5 weeks of age. Subsequent lesion severity was markedly increased in those newborns previously exposed to treponemes in utero. These observations further strengthen our model for congenital transmission of T. pallidum during pregnancy. We propose that at least some of the tissue pathology in syphilitic infection is associated with activated host defenses.

Source: Infection and Immunity

DOI: 10.1128/iai.59.5.1869-1871.1991

Authors: T J Fitzgerald, M K Froberg

Institution: University of Minnesota, Duluth

Language: English

Topic: Syphilis Diagnosis and Treatment

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases